|
|
|
|
|
|
Fields of Gray, Battle of Griswoldville, November 22, 1864
written by Gary Livingston
Studio : Caisson Pr
by Caisson Pr
Publisher : Caisson Pr
Released : 1996-08-01
Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
EAN : 9781928724001
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 2 reviews)
Our Price : $25.00
|
|
| |
|
Product Description |
|
The most in-depth and complete account of the heroic but vain fight of the Georgia troops made up of militia, state line, Athens and Augusta work battalions in their stand against Sherman's hardened veterans on their March to the Sea. In defense of family and homes the 4,000-5,000 Georgia troops under Brig. Gen. Phillips attacked the Union right wing at Griswoldville, Georgia November 22, 1864. The Georgia troops surged forward seven times against the entrenched Union lines. Statistics show more casualties than any other fight of the Civil War in proportion to the number of troops engaged. Weaving eyewitness accounts, journal entries, military communiques, newspaper accounts with his insightful narrative style, Livingston reconstructs the events leading up to that fateful day and the battle in a Georgia corn field. Livingston paints a vivid portrait and brings to life the intense and disastrous three hour battle. |
| |
|
| |
|
Yes and No |
I read Mr. Livingston's work hoping to find references to primary source material I had not found myself in researching the Western Theater of the Civil War as well as learn something about the battle at Griswoldville, Georgia. Credit goes to Livingston for laying out, in a way I have yet to read, an account of the days leading up to the battle as well as the hours of action on the field itself.
Where this book suffers horribly, though, is in writing, editing and, what I suppose to be, an attempt to add the human element to the story. Kudos to authors who can interweave participants' emotions and indivdual actions in the broader context of the story when the research documentation supports such additions. "Fields of Gray", however, left me with the impression that the author "novelized" to some extent the facts of his research in order to add a bit of dramatic flair and desperation to the narrative scene. If my supposition is wrong, well then, I stand corrected.
My second point regards overall understanding of the combatants engaged in and around the Right Wing of the Union Army on the March to the Sea. I applaud Mr. Livingston's inclusion of Private Jesse Dozer's diary excerpts as primary source material to augment his research. It is a readily available resource which is rarely utilized. I am at a loss, though, to figure out why no mention was made of the fact that Dozer's regiment, the 26th Illinois Infantry, was a part of the very Federal brigade that fought the Battle of Griswoldville. I concede that the 26th Illinois was not present for the battle. They had been assigned to guard the division wagon train a day or two prior to the battle. However, they were definitely assigned to Walcutt's (the Federal brigade commander at Griswoldville) Brigade at this time in the campaign. Livingston makes no mention of that fact as he quotes Dozer and explains what the specific Federal forces destined to fight at Griswoldville (of which Dozer was a part) were doing prior to the battle. Seems to this amateur historian that that might have been a salient and very relevant bit of information to include.
I realize this last paragraph beats a dead horse. It's point is merely to indicate that, despite the academic importance of Livingston's study, an ommission or oversight as simple as the Dozer connection to the story leads me to suspect the thoroughness and research abilty of the author. |
| |
|
A well-researched treatise on an important footnote |
|
Mr. Livingston's research is excellent, but the writing and somewhat sloppy copy editing detract from what could have been--should have been--a moving and important story about one of the great tragedies of the Civil War. I recommend for any serious Civil War enthusiast who can add his own experience to complete the greater canvas, but the casual reader might be confused as to the movement of the action and the place of the various characters. David Foster History Editor Augusta Magazine Augusta, GA |
| |
|
|
|
